What is the difference between a web designer and a web developer?

One thing that confuses a lot of people is the difference between a web designer and a web developer.

As a web developer, I’m often asked if I can ‘design’ a website for someone, and my answer is “no” because I’m not a web designer.

While they are technically two different jobs with two different skill sets, the lines between designer and developer have become blurred, particularly in the online business space, and this can cause a lot of confusion.

In this post I hope to clear up some of that confusion by explaining the difference between a web designer and a web developer.

What is a web designer?

A web designer is someone who designs websites.

They are responsible for how the website looks. They typically use design or prototyping tools to create wireframes and detailed mockups of the entire website.

Web designers also have a good understanding of user experience (UX), which helps to ensure that the website is easy to navigate and that anyone who uses the website has a smooth and engaging experience.

What is a web developer?

A web developer is someone who develops (or builds) websites.

They are programmers that write the code (such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, etc.) that powers a website. There are two main types of web developers; front-end developers and back-end developers.

Front-end developers (like myself!) will take the designs created by a web designer, and turn them into a fully-functioning website that looks exactly like the designs.

Not only can they build websites from scratch but they can also help with other technical aspects of websites such as diagnosing and fixing issues, maintaining updates, assisting with domains, hosting and emails, and so much more!

Think of a web designer as an architect and a web developer as a builder

One way I like explaining the difference between a web designer and a web developer is by comparing it to an architect and a builder.

The architect is responsible for creating the plans and designs for a building project. You’d hire them to create the plans if you were building a new house or getting an extension on your existing house.

A builder then takes what the architect has created and makes the vision a reality. They build the house or the extension using the architect’s plans.

The architect is the web designer and the builder is the web developer. We know those to be two different jobs with two different skill sets, and if we were building a new house or extension, we’d hire both of these people to get the job done.

Why do some people offer both web design and web development?

Some web designers will also offer web development services, which is where I think the lines can become blurred and where the confusion comes from.

In some cases, web designers who also offer web development services will be outsourcing the development portion of the project to someone like me. They will solely focus on designing and then they will pass on the designs to a developer who has the skills to turn those designs into a fully-functioning website.

In other cases, the web designer will be carrying out both the design and development work. They may choose to design the website first using a design or prototyping tool, and then turn this into a fully-functioning website, or they may design the website as they build it, skipping the initial design phase altogether.

Which approach is best? Doing both design and development, or outsourcing?

Neither approach is right or wrong.

It’s not wrong to play the role of both designer and developer. It’s also not wrong for the designer and developer to be separate people. They are just different approaches, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches, for the designer and/or developer and our clients.

Why would a web designer outsource their website development?

There are a few reasons why a web designer might choose to outsource their development to a web developer.

It may be because they don’t know how to code and they want to offer web design services for platforms that are traditionally more code-heavy like WordPress or Shopify.

While drag and drop website builder platforms like Squarespace and Wix can make it easy for designers with no coding experience to offer web design services, they do have their limitations and they might not be the best solution for the client and their business.

Designers may also find themselves feeling restricted when it comes to designing because they don’t know how to turn what they’re designing into actual working functionality on a website. Collaborating with a developer can give designers so much more freedom to design what they want without worrying about how they make it a reality.

Another reason is that some designers may want to access a larger pool of potential customers, rather than just working with those who want Squarespace and Wix websites. For example, 40% of all websites are powered by WordPress. That’s a massive market to tap into!

It may also be that a web designer doesn’t enjoy web development. They might find it difficult or stressful, or that it doesn’t come naturally to them. Or perhaps they just find it boring!

It’s ok to not like web development as a web designer!

Here’s the thing; it’s ok to not enjoy web development as a web designer. In fact, it’s completely normal. Most web designers will get into the field because they like designing and being creative. We shouldn’t expect them to also enjoy the more technical side of building websites like coding, hosting, domains, emails, etc.

Here’s another way to think about it: let’s compare designers and developers to surgeons and general practitioners (even though I’m acutely aware they both do much more important jobs than designers and developers!).

While they are both in the medical field, they are different roles that are suited by different people. Some doctors will like the blood and gore, and will be naturally drawn towards surgery. Other doctors will prefer the most personal aspect of being a doctor and will become a GP instead. We don’t try to force surgeons to be GPs or vice versa, so we shouldn’t do the same for web designers and web developers!

Here are the takeaways…

If you are a web designer reading this post and you do both design and development in your business, that’s absolutely fine! As long as you enjoy both and you feel like by doing both you are able to give your clients the best results, then go for it! I’m not here to stop you.

However, if you are a web designer and you don’t enjoy development, let this be your permission slip. You don’t have to like or be good at both design and development. That’s completely fine and not a problem! You can still run a web design business without needing to wear both hats by collaborating with a web developer.

And if you’re reading this as neither a web designer nor a web developer, I hope I’ve helped you to have a better understanding of the two roles and how they are different. If you are in the market for a new website, I encourage you to look at the pros and cons of working with someone who offers both web design and development, versus hiring a separate web designer and web developer, and make the right decision for you.

Are you ready to outsource your website development?

If you’re a web designer who loves creating beautiful websites but hates the coding side of things, I can help!

I specialise in turning designs into fully-functioning WordPress websites that not only look beautiful but that are also functional, strategic and fast.